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What's Up, Up Here? May 9 - May 16

The First Annual Beverly Hills Book Awards recognized “The Bonus”by Swall Meadows fiction writer Georgia Loweas the winnerinLiterary Fiction. The competition was judged by experts from all aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers,and professional copywriters. They select award winners and finalists based on overall excellence. Said awards sponsor Ellen Reid: “These books will be favorites on bookshelves for years and years to come.” …

Wotta week for Howardto go on vacation! Not to worry. Rob Gillover at KMMTcoerced Roger Pettywellto come in to do the weather on Tuesday. …

Plowshave cleared the Reds Meadow Roadand crews have started repairs and other work to get the Devils Postpile Monumentready for visitors. Three more weeks til opening day as long as there are no more complications, like snowstorms in May! …

The High Point road projecton U.S. 395 near Topazis in trouble, reports Mammoth council member John Eastman. Something having to do with a possible bankruptcyof the company doing the work. …

With two dry winters in the books, the water level this summer at Mono Lakecould drop to its lowest level since 1996, says the Mono Lake Committee. …

The annual dog licensing and vaccination dayis coming right up at the Cop Shop, but dog owners don’t have to actually bring in the hounds this year unless they need vaccination updates. The fee is at the low-low-low price of $20. …

Yeah, so it snowed. Even so, Little Leagueopened last Sunday at Shady Rest Park, so we figure a real spring can’t be far behind. …

Elsewhere on the parks front, the Go-To Gadget Mansays the community tennis courtsare to get new sealant on May 15, and the (new) filters at the (old) Whitmore Poolare installed and (almost) ready for the first Sharkspractice on May 20. …

It’s still under warranty, so runners encountering those weird air bubbles on the surface of the new Whitmore Trackshouldn’t be too worried. A fix is on the way, says parks superintendent Dennis Rottner. …

Just for the heck of it: As of Tuesday, there were just nine ski resorts still open in North America, to wit: Sunshine Village, Alberta;Whistler/Blackcomb, B.C.;Mt. Bachelor, Ore;Snowbird, Utah;Timberline Lodge, Ore; Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Colo.; Killington, Vt; Crystal Mountain, Wash., and Little Ol’ Us. …

Big-time jawdropping this past week when town engineer Peter Bernasconishowed up at an event wearing a necktie. Bets are on as to whether anyone will ever see that again. …

The aforesaid eventwas the opening of the brand-new Trails End Park, where Rec Commission Chair Bill Sauserdid the ribbon cutting. “Every time I show up at a ribbon cutting,” said Big Bill, “it snows!” Quipped bystander Christian Pondella: “He oughta show up in November then.” …

The world-famous Mammoth Lakes Farmers Marketis set to open July 3 in the usual spot at the Retail Outlet Mall, with Paul and Kathleen Rudderonce more footing the bill. It goes off each Wednesday, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., until mid-October or the crops run out. This year, because of changes in state law, hobby bakersare allowed to pedal their wares. …

Cool this week to see Olympic and World Cup superstar Ted Ligetybopping around town and hitting the gates on Mammoth Mountain, along with other skiers, runners and the like. Mammoth in the spring, huh? …

We’re mighty sad to wave goodbye to Brittania Cogan, who is leaving the hospital, the biathlon community, and Mammoth Lakes to start Physicians Assistant School in New England. We’re going to miss her winning all the races. Sort of. …

The seemingly inexhaustible Dr. Rick Johnson, Mono and Inyo counties public health officer, was recently appointed by Governor Jerry Brownto a state commission on emergency medical service, the only one on the commission with a public health background. Says Dr. Johnson about aforesaid honor, “It will put me in the information loop in being able to shape policy in the ever evolving field of EMS. More importantly for us locally, it will allow me to represent a rural perspective, since most others are from urban areas.” …

Best wishes to Lynda Salcido, long time local, public health department director, interim Mono County administrative officer, and best friend and spouse to Greg Newbry. Lynda is recovering from hip surgery. …

Lee Vining streetswill get a facelift beginning this week, as crews start a community-wide fix on all streets, beginning with Third and Fourth streets near Nicely’s. Next on the list are the streets of Chalfant, next year, with June Lakestreets to follow in another year or two. …

Congratulations to Tony Dublino, the Mono County garbage guruwho has managed to reside over a balanced garbage fund and, who saw the state take the Benton Crossing Landfilloff its hit list of polluters, recently. …

A big welcome to Leslie Chapman, the brand new Mono County Finance Director. She went before the county supervisors Tuesday for her first public meeting. Chapman comes to the county from Inyo County…

Two drier than normal winters could threaten the water supplythat feeds the fish-rearing business out at the Conway Ranchat the base on Conway Summit, so Mono County Fisheries Commission’sgo-to-guy, Steve Marti, is looking at possibly drilling a well on the property that could provide a more reliable source of water in years to come, should it be necessary. It’s not just the amount of water that’s the issue, he said Tuesday to the five Mono County Supervisors, but the temperature. Trout simply don’t like warm water and this year’s warmer-than-normal spring and lower-than-average snowpack are making both an issue.